In the 1970 movie Kelly’s Heroes, the portrayal of Tiger tanks was achieved not with actual German Tiger tanks but through a clever bit of cinematic trickery. The tanks used in the film were Russian T-34 tanks that had been modified to resemble the German Tiger tanks. This modification is particularly evident when examining the tanks’ suspension systems—the T-34s featured a modified Christie suspension, which is different from the more elaborate wheels of the actual Tiger tanks. This creative solution was necessitated by the scarcity and high cost of authentic Tiger tanks, coupled with the relative abundance and lower cost of T-34 tanks, which were among the most common tanks used during World War II​​​​.

The decision to film Kelly’s Heroes in Yugoslavia also played a significant role in the choice of tanks used. The Yugoslavian Army had a sizable quantity of M4 Sherman tanks at the time, which were utilized in the movie. This logistical convenience allowed for a more authentic representation of armored vehicles without the need for extensive modifications or sourcing rare historical tanks from other locations​​​​.

Further insight into the fate of the modified T-34 tanks used in Kelly’s Heroes reveals that three such tanks were built for the film. These tanks have made appearances in other films since then, with one of them now being part of the Imperial War Museum’s collection in Duxford, displayed in quite unique colors. The whereabouts of the other two tanks are less clear, though they may have ended up in film prop rental lots or other collections​​.

This creative use of the T-34 tanks underscores the film industry’s ability to adapt and innovate, ensuring that Kelly’s Heroes could successfully depict its story with a semblance of historical accuracy, despite the practical limitations of accessing period-specific military hardware.